That Montreal trade makes absolutely no sense for either side. St Louis gets an overpaid second/third line center in Plekanec, which we already have in Stastny, and for another year at 6 million. MTL, in a cup hunt, drastically reduces their skill in Lehtera, for another 3 years? And we could definitely get more for Shatty.

As a Ranger fan I think that trade is pretty solid for both sides.

Hmm really? This is my thought process. Plekanec is more expensive but less term. Lehtera is more term but less expensive. Lehtera is younger and thus probably better for longer but Plekanec is technically "better" right now in terms of capability overall. The way I see it, this is pretty fair if both teams are looking to take a chance on a new player that might turn it around with their new club, No?

Ferrari Marc, I agree with you yet again haha. Similar players, Plekanec costs more with less term. It's a good deal provided that STL can still afford Parayko (need to rely on the call-ups on ELCs). Plekanec would be off the books when it's time to re-sign Fabbri. I don't see how STL could refuse a Lehtera trade; and I think this is about the only kind of offer they'd receive.

so you buy out Lehtera without taking on a 6 million guy.

But then you pay out term even longer, although much less. Also buying out a contract should be deemed the last resort. We AGM's can do it so easily but in real life it casts a GM in a negative light regarding other players/ future negotiations. Not to mention your essentially firing someone. I know they're all rich but it still hard to do at the end of the day.